by Zoë Pollock
Patrick makes some good points about the real dangers of putting Ron Paul in the White House. Pareene itemizes his fears, including this pretty big one:
A Ron Paul presidency could very well mean the end of legal abortion in the United States.
Serwer's critique of Paul's larger philosophy is spot-on:
While Paul isn't a vocal member of the GOP's homophobia wing, preferring to leave such questions to the states, his vision of freedom comes across as terribly limited to constituencies whose individual freedom, throughout American history, has come from the intervention of the federal government. It's impossible to imagine black people or women having the freedom they have today without the Civil Rights Act.
For gays and lesbians, who are hoping to secure their own fundamental rights, Paul's federalism would give individual states the right to violate those rights by a show of hands. Paul-style libertarianism too often comes across as an agenda of individual freedom for straight white men.
(Photo: Supporters of Rep. Ron Paul cheer for the candidate during the Iowa Straw Poll on August 13, 2011 in Ames, Iowa. By Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
The Dish 